Spatial datasets for geographical referencing - Specification for a street gazetteer

What is BS 7666-1:2019 about?

This is the second in a four part series of British Standards on how to present geographical reference information so it’s done consistently. BS 7666-1:2019 specifically covers information for street gazetteers.

Because the series was revised and reconstituted, the other three standards are now:

-       Part 0: General model for gazetteers and spatial referencing

-       Part 2: Specification for a land and property gazetteer

-       Part 5: Specification for a delivery point gazetteer

Who is BS 7666-1:2019 for?

§  Those compiling street gazetteers for highways management, street works management and property addressing purposes in borough, district and county councils

§  Those who supply local authorities with related services

§  Developers of applications which use this data

Why should you use BS 7666-1:2019?

The BS 7666 series enables local authorities across the UK to produce consistent street, land and property records which form the basis of the National Street Gazetteer (NSG) and the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG).

BS 7666-1:2019 specifies:

§  The data to be maintained in a gazetteer of streets, consistent with BS 7666-0, enabling different users of street information to use the same data with consistency of content, accuracy, currency and format

§  Different ways of referencing a street to ensure that data can be accessed by street name, description, route number, unique reference number or external cross reference

§  How to represent the geometry of the street in terms of coordinates. Three ways are allowed, with successive levels of detail 

NOTE: This standard does not provide a database design or a transfer format. 

What’s new about BS 7666-1:2019?

This is a full revision of the 2006 standard, introducing the following principal changes:

a)      The scope of the street gazetteer has been clarified

b)     Elementary street units are mandatory for a level three street gazetteer

c)      Reflexive relationship added on “Street”

d)     Spatial reference system added to gazetteer metadata

e)     The “State” description is now physical and has been harmonized with the British Standard

f)       Relationship between street and elementary street unit changed to “is made up of”

g)      Relationship between elementary street unit and street changed to “is part of”

h)     Data type “Point” now has “X” and “Y” data type as “Real”

i)       Unified Modelling Language (“UML”) diagrams updated

j)       State code “temporarily stopped u

What is BS 7666-1 ‒Specification for street gazetteer about?  

BS 7666-1 is the first part of an international multi-series standard that covers spatial datasets for geographical referencing. 

BS 7666-1 specifies the data to be maintained in a gazetteer of streets, consistent with BS 7666, enabling different users of street information to use the same data with the consistency of content, accuracy, currency, and format. Different ways of referencing a street are defined to ensure that data can be accessed by street name, description, route number, unique reference number, or external cross-reference.  

BS 7666-1 specifies the means of representing the geometry of the street in terms of coordinates. Three ways are allowed for this with successive levels of detail by:  

• Identifying the endpoints of a street, and representing the street as a single line segment 

• Breaking the street at its intermediate junctions to create a set of constituent line segments, termed elementary street units 
• Describing the course of each elementary street unit 

BS 7666-1 is intended for use by those compiling street gazetteers for the purposes of highways and street works management and property addressing. It does not provide a database design or a transfer format. 

Who is BS 7666-1‒Specification for street gazetteer for? 

BS 7666-1 on Specification for street gazetteer is useful for: 

• Land Developers 
• Street work management department 
• Highway management department 
• Local street gazetteer 
• Land surveyors 

Why should you use BS 7666-1‒Specification for street gazetteer?  

Streets are defined in different ways by different people for different purposes Reference can be by name, number, or description. A street gazetteer contains references to the instance of streets within its territory of use and includes the various types of streets within its scope.  

BS 7666-1 gives you a general, all-encompassing definition for street gazetteers. It specifies numerous different ways of referencing streets, to enable users to be acknowledged with each element of the street unit.  

BS 7666-1 intends to enable the consistent definition of streets and their compilation into street gazetteers. This can be used for a range of purposes, including highways and street works management, and property address. It also provides the street referencing, an element of land and property gazetteers, which provides you with a definitive list of land parcels and properties, each uniquely identified. 

What’s changed since the last update?  

BS 7666-1:2019 supersedes BS 76661:2006. BS 7666-1:2019 includes some technical changes with respect to BS 76661:2006. These include: 

• The scope of the street gazetteer has been clarified 
• Elementary street units are mandatory for a level three street gazetteer 
• Reflexive relationship added on “Street” 
• Spatial reference system added to gazetteer metadata 

• The “State” description is now physical and has been harmonized with the British gufvyftyftyfytdy